Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS => GARDENING AROUND THE HOUSE => Topic started by: BlueBee on October 17, 2011, 07:44:09 pm

Title: Paw Paw Recipes
Post by: BlueBee on October 17, 2011, 07:44:09 pm
OK bee keepers, what are your best recipes for Paw Paw fruit?

For those unfamiliar with Paw Paws here is the Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asimina_triloba (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asimina_triloba)

Around here they’re sometimes called Michigan Banana’s.

Here’s some of my crop from a fairly small tree (the trunk is in the background of this photo).
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j365/MichiganBee/Gardening/PawPaw1.jpg)
Title: Re: Paw Paw Recipes
Post by: AllenF on October 17, 2011, 09:44:38 pm
Squirrels get mine before they get ripe.    http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/pawpaw/recipes.htm (http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/pawpaw/recipes.htm)
Title: Re: Paw Paw Recipes
Post by: Mek on November 09, 2012, 12:04:52 am
Peel Paw Paw,
Slice to thin pieces
Salt them so that the sappiness comes out.
Rinse.

Add more salt and sugar to taste. Add Japanese rice vinegar.
Pickled paw paw.


Title: Re: Paw Paw Recipes
Post by: MrILoveTheAnts on November 09, 2012, 08:07:31 pm
I was told the flesh can be put right into an ice cream maker.
Title: Re: Paw Paw Recipes
Post by: minz on November 09, 2012, 10:44:29 pm
I put in a couple of seedlings here, how many years before they get to fruit bearing age?
Title: Re: Paw Paw Recipes
Post by: AllenF on November 10, 2012, 02:10:51 pm
Just a couple years down here.   But we still loose them before the fruit gets any size. 
Title: Re: Paw Paw Recipes
Post by: Mek on November 13, 2012, 01:28:27 am
Try thinning them out so only a few fruit are on the tree.
Also maybe missing out on trace minerals ?  Boron?
NKP?
Water?
Title: Re: Paw Paw Recipes
Post by: BlueBee on November 13, 2012, 02:49:10 am
I would probably say 4 to 5 years from seedling to fruit in Michigan.  They recommend you plant two or more  for cross pollination.  Once they get established, you will likely end up with a spreading paw paw patch.  I’m not sure if mine are spreading by seed or by roots, but they’re definitely spreading.  Paw Paws are one of the first trees to flower (deep purple flowers) and are pollinated by flies.  Bees don’t’ work them. 

One thing I’ve observed about paw paws is they aren’t all the same.  Some trees/cultivars produce premium large fruit in abundance like in the photo above.  Other trees produce small fruit in a sparse fashion.  I started with two trees.  One I bought in Memphis, TN and one I bought here in Michigan.  The Michigan tree was a clone (ie graft) from Paw Paw development they do at Michigan State University.  That tree produces nice big paw paws and has very nice fall foliage (yellow) and large leafs.  The Memphis Paw Paw tree has grown like crazy and is covered with blooms in the spring, but only produces a few small paw paws.  It also has poor fall color.

So beware there is a large variation in the quality of paw paw trees.  I would recommend buying a named cultivar.  My Michigan State paw paw is a graft, whereas my Memphis tree was just a regular seeding (no graft).  My Memphis Paw Paw will probably meet up with the axe soon.  It’s grown big and just isn’t as nice of a tree.
Title: Re: Paw Paw Recipes
Post by: minz on November 16, 2012, 12:17:13 am
How about finding somebody with a variety that you like and graft it? I have been playing with apples and If I set 5 and get one I am happy.  I just tried 8 bud grafts on some espaliers, it was really easy! The nurseryman I hunt with showed me how it is done.  They let them grow the season and then everything other than the graft wood gets cut off.  The tree has a odd kink in it but you have fruiting tree almost right off.

Title: Re: Paw Paw Recipes
Post by: BlueBee on November 16, 2012, 04:00:02 am
Of course Oregon, is the tree nursery for the nation so if you’re getting your paw paw seedlings from a local grower, they might be a good tree; who knows.  Otherwise, grafting a stem from a good tree onto a seedling whip is the way to go.

I’ve had a heck of time getting paw paw seeds to germinate when I’ve spent the time and effort to stratify and plant them.  I’m batting about 0 for 200.  Luckily mother nature seems to be more competent than I am since I now have about 20 seedlings growing around the original trees.

The seedlings look more like the desirable Michigan State University tree than my other tree.  So who knows, maybe seedlings from a good cultivar will end up making nice fruit?  My guess is my seedlings might start fruiting next year.  I might know the answer then.
Title: Re: Paw Paw Recipes
Post by: shawnwri on January 17, 2014, 03:12:09 pm
http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/pawpaw/recipes.htm (http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/pawpaw/recipes.htm)